Great Trek: Museveni says guns should never be turned on citizens but the enemy

President Yoweri Museveni has continued with the nearly 200-Km Great Trek – codenamed “Africa Kwetu” – from Bukatira village in Nakaseke District with a call upon the National Resistance Movement Secretariat to mobilize the masses at the grass-root level based on shared responsibility approach on the way forward after the liberation struggle was won by the Movement in 1986.

The President was addressing the Trekkers at Bukatira Campsite in Semuto, Nakaseke District before they set off on the second day of the Trek that kicked off Saturday at Garamba in Wakiso District. Yesterday’s 38-Km Trek was slated to pass through Kilema, Kadunda, Kakinga on to Masileba connecting the districts of Nakaseke and Kiboga in Central Region.

Mr. Museveni who advocated for shared responsibilities among political leaders at all levels in mass mobilization, said that whatever action is taken for national development, it must be put on record in order to ensure that the truth and facts remain on ground for verification purposes by government planning organs.

In his remarks following narrations by retired and serving Senior Army Officers on the liberation struggle, President Museveni commended the conduct and discipline that the Army has always exhibited.

“Conduct, discipline and zeal to fight for freedom was the epicentre of the bush war in 1981 to 1982 aiming at success till when Obote forces launched a big offensive and for lack of weapons we withdrew to Singo,” he said.

He added that later, the then NRA forces established a centre of gravity in Masindi, Galamba and Kabamba to become a much more stronger force by 1984. He, therefore, appealed to the Uganda Armed Forces to maintain discipline just like the then NRA forces led by example.

“To see a soldier frightening and threatening people is not good. Set the gun to an enemy not to the wananchi,” he said.

Mr. Museveni also emphasized the five key strategies for national development as a peaceful nation, upholding the national campaign for household income that should not be mixed with national plans for infrastructure development, emphasizing free education for children from poor families, managing government drugs in medical centres and dissolving land ownership issues between landlords and squatters.

He called for total support by the people of Uganda to ensure that government implements and accomplishes the commitments he had enumerated.

Retired and Senior Army Officers shared with the Trekkers the NRA bush war experiences as well as the challenges and hurdles the force went through. Retired Brig. Gen. Julius Chihandae, Maj. Gen. Stephen Kashaka, Col. Jaffari Kasirye Kasirivu, and Lt. Gen. Proscovia Nalweyiso appealed to the Bazzukulu to take the lead in shaping a better Uganda for greater heights.

Maj. Gen. Kashaka expressed gratification that some of the then Kadogo soldiers that he had recruited during the bush war, are serving very well as senior Army Officers.

Nakaseke District Women MP, Hon. Sarah Najjuma, reported that her area still needs support on roads’ construction and youth skilling and training, among other development programmes.